Fermín IV Caballero Elizondo, born in 1974 in Monterrey, Mexico, emerged as a defining figure of the 1990s hip-hop movement known as Avanzada Regia. As the lead voice of the trio Control Machete, he helped bring Mexican hip-hop to international stages before pivoting toward a solo recording career and a concurrent vocation as an Evangelical pastor.
Control Machete and International Recognition
In 1996, Toy Selectah formed Control Machete alongside Fermín IV and Patricio Elizalde. The group gained immediate traction with their 1997 debut album, Mucho Barato, which featured the popular track Comprendes Mendes. Their subsequent release, Artillería Pesada Presenta, earned a platinum RIAA certification. The project produced the single Sí Señor, which secured a nomination for Best Rock Song at the 2000 Latin Grammy Awards. During this era, the group toured extensively across Europe and America, sharing the stage with artists such as U2, Eminem, and David Bowie. His final contribution to the group was the track De Perros Amores, featured on the soundtrack for the Oscar-nominated film Amores Perros.
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Fermín IV began his solo career with the album Boomerang in 2002, which earned Arpa Awards for Best Art Design and Best Rock or Alternative Album. The single 004 from this record was included in the film XXx. In 2001, he joined the evangelical church Semilla de Mostaza, participating in multiple studio and live music projects. By 2006, he assumed the role of pastor. His religious focus informed his subsequent musical output, including the 2005 album Los que Trastornan al mundo and the 2008 compilation Dúos Con.
Return to Recording
Following a period of inactivity, he released the four-track EP Y Mi Vida Comenzó in 2014. In 2017, he signed a contract with Sony Music and issued the EP Odio / Amor, featuring the single Fácil. This project secured another win at the Arpa Awards in 2018. Subsequent efforts included the promotion of the album Decisiones, which featured collaborations such as Valentía with Akil Ammar. His later work continued with the 2022 EP Ya Puedes Sonreír.
Fast facts
- Born: 1974, Monterrey, Mexico
- Primary Occupations: Rapper, singer, pastor
- Notable Group: Control Machete
- 1997 Album: Mucho Barato
- 2001 Faith transition: Protestant Christian
- 2017 Label: Sony Music
- Arpa Awards won: 2003 and 2018
Questions readers ask
Was Fermín IV involved in rock music?
Yes, in the early 1990s, before his tenure in Control Machete, he performed with a local rock band titled Prófuga de Metate.
Did he continue his music career after becoming a pastor?
Yes, he maintained a dual path, releasing albums such as Los que Trastornan al mundo in 2005 and various EPs after becoming a pastor in 2006.
Achievements
- Instruments: voice
- Genres: hip-hop
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